The Management of African Steel Limited has denied reports that the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has shut down its Ikorodu Steel Factory over standards infractions, describing such media reports as untrue.
A statement from African Steel Limited Management attributed the report to the handiwork of some competitors who thrive on gaining an advantage through unfair business practices.
According to the statement, signed by Ravi Sharma, officials of the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) recently visited the premises of African Steel, Ikorodu, in the course of their regulatory oversight. They took inventory of already manufactured steel products and took samples for further regulatory processes with proper documentation.
“The company is aware that similar regulatory steps were undertaken by SON at the premises of other steel manufacturers across the country,” stressing that SON Officials never shut down the African Steel Limited premises in Ikorodu.
African Steel Limited is a member of the African Industries Group, which commits to the highest ethical standards in all its operations in Nigeria and across the globe. “We, therefore, assure our numerous Customers of quality products at all times and advise them to ignore the untrue publications,” said Sharma.
Sharma restated the Group’s commitment to upholding the highest standards of its manufactured products and providing services that conform with all regulatory requirements, given its huge investment in the Nigerian economy. This investment includes an integrated iron ore mining, processing, and steel production plant located in Kajuru, Kagarko Local Government Area of Kaduna state, with a capital outlay in the region of $600m.
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While commenting on the SON’s most recent regulatory activity in the Steel sector, Director of Product Certification, Engr. Enebi Onucheyo corroborated the African Steel narrative and confirmed that neither the facility of the company nor those of any other Steel manufacturer were shut down in the latest exercise.
“Rather, spot inspections were carried out, inventories and samples taken, and products were kept on hold with proper documentation to enable SON to conduct laboratory tests and analysis to arrive at informed conclusions in line with our organization’s standards operating procedure,” he said.
He said SON’s nationwide regulatory action was part of routine exercises usually carried out periodically without notice, to checkmate the production and circulation of substandard iron rods in the Nigerian markets.
Engr. Onucheyo stated that the Management of the Standards Organisation of Nigeria is determined to clamp down on standards infractions in all sectors of the economy with particular emphasis on products classified as life-endangering. Such infractions will be duly prosecuted in line with the provisions of the SON Act and other extant laws of the Nation.
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